Napa Valley

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Taking a Napa

A July 2003 trip to Napa Valley by Laura

After a week of business in San Francisco, it was time for some wine tasting and relaxing in Napa.

  • 7 reviews

Taking a NapaBest of IgoUgo

Overview

The best wineries to see are: Artesia -- best view of the entire valley area; Mumm Cuvee -- has a fabulous Ansel Adams art gallery. Hess also has a wonderful art collection.

Quick Tips:

We bought local wines at the Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa and shipped them back to home in Chicago -- no sales tax, but shipping costs more than made up for that. Nevertheless, the wines are much cheaper than at the wineries. There is Beverage Depot in Napa that is probably the same deal.

Best Way To Get Around:

You need a car and a designated driver! Those wine tastings can get to you if you're not too careful.

California Vacation Club - RiverPointe Napa ValleyBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Best Things Nearby:
Wineries in Napa, Sonoma, Yountville, St. Helena. Art galleries.

Best Things About the Resort:
The landscaping and gardens are absolutely gorgeous. There is a large pool and a small workout room with free weights and a couple machines. There are two hot tubs and lots of grills for BBQs.

Resort Experience:
This timeshare was the strangest place I've stayed in. The units were little modular homes (i.e. mobile homes) that they plopped down and called timeshares. Each little cottage was a separate unit. They were very small, maybe 500 square feet each. The kitchen only had burners, no stove. There was a dishwasher and full sized fridge. There was a nice deck with a table for dining outside. The laundry facilities were at the back of the resort in a separate building.

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Good
  • Amenities: Good
  • Unit Satisfaction: Fair
  • Family Friendliness: Good
  • Service: Very Good
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on August 13, 2003

California Vacation Club - RiverPointe Napa Valley
500 Lincoln Ave, Napa Valley, California 94558
(707) 252-4200

Genova DelicatessenBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Genovese food is difficult to find in the USA, so we were very excited about this deli and ravioli factory since we are Genovese. Ravioli from Genoa are a different breed. They are NOT those big "pillows" filled with ricotta. They are flat and filled with meat and spinach. At this place they are great and the sauce is authentic too. They have hot food items and deli items that you order at the counter after taking a number. You can dine it or take it home. The minestrone soup is authentic Genovese too--green from the pesto and thick from the split peas in the broth. This is a great place. They sell plenty of imported candies, cookies, and local wines too.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Laura on August 13, 2003

Genova Delicatessen
1550 Trancas Street Napa Valley, California 94558
(707) 253-8686

Piccolino's Italian CafeBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

We went to Piccolino's for lunch and ordered a delicious chopped salad with sun dried tomatoes, salami, cheese, etc. in a balsalmic dressing. We also got a chicken Parmesan. It was very good too. The wine selection is nice. With the two items and two glasses of wine, lunch was about $50. It is in the Napa Town Center, which is a great location for shopping and strolling around the stores.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on August 13, 2003

Piccolino's Italian Cafe
1385 Napa Town Center Napa, California 94559
+1 707 251 0100

Brix RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "CAFE SOCIETY"

We happened upon this little cafe on the main drag in Napa. It was a sleepy Sunday afternoon and the owner/manager invited us in, knowing we were hungry. She explained the best items on the menu and the day's specials.

This is a French cafe that offers delicios quiches, soups, gelato, and all the coffee drinks you can imagine. The food was great. There was a computer so patrons could check email. It was decorated with lots of French paraphenalia and even serve Lillet. I felt like I was in France for a bit. This cafe is a little gem.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Laura on August 13, 2003

Brix Restaurant
7377 St Helena Highway Napa, California 94558
+1 707 944 2749

Copia: The American Center for for Wine,Food and ArtsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Farmers Market at Copia"

On Tuesdays from 7:30am to noon at Copia there is a Farmers Market. I was hoping to get some dried fruits and nuts, but there were none to be found that day. Instead we saw fresh peaches, berries, lavendar, and more. There was oil and vinegar from local purveyors and some Napa Hot Sauce. It is rather small with only 35 to 40 vendors. I also bought some essential oils from a spa products vendor.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on August 13, 2003

Copia: The American Center for for Wine,Food and Arts
500 First Street Napa Valley, California 94559
(707) 259-1600

River CityBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

River City in across from the timeshare at Riverpoint. There is a large outdoor deck for dining and drinking. On Sundays and Wednesdays, there is a live band outside on the deck and they were really good on the Sunday we went. Some friends from the audience were goaded into joining them and singing a song or two. The entertainment was quality nevertheless. The food was just OK and the service so-so too. I would go back for the fun live band on a great back deck over the Napoa River.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on August 13, 2003

River City
505 Lincoln Ave. Napa Valley, California 94558
707-253-1111

About the Writer

Laura
Laura
Chicago, Illinois

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